The Africa Cup of Nations trophy will remain in West Africa at least for the next two years. Current champions Nigeria will this Sunday hand over to either Ivory Coast or Ghana – the two finalists who will bring down the curtain on this year’s tournament with a cracker in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.

This night at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, a classy Ghana easily overcame hosts Equatorial Guinea with an emphatic 3-0 victory in the second semi-final.

The hosts wilted from the 43rd minute, when Jordan Ayew opened scoring from the penalty spot after Kwesi Appiah was controversially adjudged to have been brought down by goalkeeper Felipe Ovono inside the area.

Three minutes later, Ghana broke from an Equatorial Guinea corner-kick through Christian Atsu, who set up Mubarak Wakaso, who tapped in from a crowded goalmouth.

Andre Ayew completed the rout in the 76th minute with a simple tap in after being picked out by Kwesi Appiah.

The match was held up for minutes after angry home fans – yet to overcome the disappointment of the ostensibly unfair penalty – began throwing missiles into the pitch with about eight minutes remaining to play.

Ivory Coast had booked a ticket to the final yesterday after beating Congo DR 3-1 in Bata. Cup holders Nigeria was absent from the championship, having fallen by the wayside during the qualifying series.